Best Sprint Android phones (June 2019)

This month we removed the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge to make room for the HTC U11.

Are you a Sprint customer looking for your next phone? We understand it can be frustrating to look through the gigantic list of Sprint phones, so we’re here to help. There’s a wide selection of smartphones that are currently available from the carrier. To help you find the device that is best suited for you, here is a roundup of the best Sprint phones you can buy!

Best Sprint phones:

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best Sprint phones regularly as new devices launch.

Samsung Galaxy S10 family

Samsung upped its flagship game in 2019 with the introduction of three new devices that make up its Galaxy S10 lineup – the Samsung Galaxy S10e, the Galaxy S10, and the Galaxy S10 Plus. They are by far the best Samsung phones you can buy at the moment. There are some differences between the three variants, but are all worth considering.

Starting with what’s common between them, all three are powered by the same processor, come with Android 9 Pie on-board with Samsung’s new One UI skin, and feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD expansion are available. You also get Super AMOLED displays with all, albeit with different sizes and resolutions. They support punch-hole front-facing cameras, allowing for high screen-to-body ratios and beautiful design.

The differences begin with the screen. The smaller Galaxy S10e comes with a lower resolution screen. The larger two also have an under-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The Galaxy S10 Plus expands the punch hole by including a second front-facing depth sensor. The Galaxy S10e has two rear cameras. Both the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus have those, but add a telephoto camera. You get varying battery capacities with them as well.

The Samsung Galaxy S10e is a fantastic option for those who are looking for all the power that Samsung has to offer at a comparatively cheaper price point. A better camera setup, more RAM, a larger display, and bigger battery are what you get with the Galaxy S10, and the Galaxy S10 Plus takes things one step further. If you’re looking to plant your flag at the absolute top of the Samsung Galaxy S mountain, the Galaxy S10 Plus with a whopping 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is the model you want.

Galaxy S10 specs:

Galaxy S10 Plus specs:

Display: 6.4-inch, Quad HD+

SoC: Snapdragon 855

RAM: 8/12GB

Storage: 128/512GB and 1TB

Rear cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP

Front cameras: 10 and 8MP

Battery: 4,100mAh

Software: Android 9.0 Pie

LG G8 ThinQ

The LG G8 ThinQ is the latest flagship phone from the folks at LG and continues the trend of LG flagships that deserve a lot more attention than they get. On the surface, the LG G8 looks much like its predecessor, but it’s another story when you peek under the hood.

LG upgraded the display to an OLED panel, resulting in a far better viewing experience. You get the processing package that is found with every 2019 flagship and other premium features like water resistance and wireless charging are also available. LG also introduced a couple of unique unlocking methods with the phone, like Vein ID and Air Motion.

If there’s one thing that sets the LG G8 apart, it’s the fantastic audio experience that the device offers, more than enough to entice any audiophile. Excellent performance, good front and rear cameras, and decent battery life round out the many reasons why the LG G8 ThinQ is worth considering.

LG G8 ThinQ specs:

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a series

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

At Google I/O this year, Google announced that the Pixel 3, the Pixel 3 XL, the Pixel 3a, and the Pixel 3a XL would be available on network carriers other than Verizon for the first time since the launch of the Pixel series. So if you were hoping to pick up the new Pixel smartphones on Sprint, you’re now in luck.

The Pixel 3 line is the flagship series that comes with a high-end processing package and premium features. The Pixel 3a devices aren’t bad options either for those okay with a mid-range processor and few other compromises, given that they are almost half the price of their flagship siblings.

Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL

However, there is one department where all four smartphones continue to shine — the camera. The mid-range Pixel 3a’s come with the same camera setup as the Pixel 3’s, and includes all the camera software improvements and features that are available like Top Shot mode and Night Sight.

There are some premium features missing from the Pixel 3a smartphones of course, like water resistance and wireless charging. The affordable Pixels have polycarbonate bodies that don’t look and feel as good as the glass construction of the Pixel 3. But if a fantastic camera experience is what you’re after at a more affordable price point, the Pixel 3a certainly delivers.

Pixel 3a specs:

Pixel 3a XL specs:

Display: 6.0-inch, Full HD+

SoC: Snapdragon 670

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

Rear camera: 12.2MP

Front camera: 8MP

Battery: 3,700mAh

Software: Android 9.0 Pie

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was one of the most anticipated releases of 2018 and it delivered. The latest Galaxy Note is the epitome of powerhouse. It shares much of its predecessor’s design language, with flatter sides and refinements like better fingerprint scanner placement and a smaller camera visor. The Galaxy Note 9 is the latest example showing Samsung knows how to make a premium smartphone.

The Galaxy Note 9 features the best smartphone display around, with numbers to prove it. It’s got the exact same setup as the Galaxy S9 Plus, with a few new software tricks to further enhance an already excellent experience. The specs are 2018 flagship, but you are certainly not going to feel like the phone isn’t fast enough by any stretch of the imagination.

What lets the Galaxy Note 9 retain a place on this list is its defining feature — the S-Pen. Samsung has brought more value and convenience with the stylus every year, and the Galaxy Note 9’s S-Pen comes with a lot of new features and capabilities. There are a lot of Galaxy Note fans in the U.S., and the Note 9 is not going to leave anyone disappointed.

Galaxy Note 9 specs:

Display: 6.4-inch, Quad HD+

SoC: Snapdragon 845

RAM: 6/8GB

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Rear cameras: 12 and 12MP

Front camera: 8MP

Battery: 4,000mAh

Software: Android 8.1 Oreo

Honorable mention: LG V50 ThinQ 5G

If you want to be at the absolute cutting edge of mobile technology, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G is the phone for you. This is one of the only devices on one of the few networks capable of taking advantage of blazing fast 5G speeds. Of course, network coverage is extremely limited right now and there’s a long way to go before 5G is anywhere close to being ready for the mainstream. If you live in a place where Sprint 5G is available, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G is the phone you’ll need to make use of it.